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Theoretical Investigation into Suitable Pore Sizes of Membranes for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
Author(s) -
Liu Zaichun,
Li Ruilian,
Chen Jizhong,
Wu Xiongwei,
Zhang Kai,
Mo Jun,
Yuan Xinhai,
Jiang Hongmei,
Holze Rudolf,
Wu Yuping
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.201700244
Subject(s) - vanadium , membrane , electrolyte , redox , ion , ion exchange membranes , chemistry , chemical physics , ion exchange , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , materials science , analytical chemistry (journal) , electrode , chromatography , organic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Abstract For the first time, a three‐dimensional (3D) volume calculation model based on total electrostatic potential analysis and density functional calculations is applied to study the volume differences between hydrated multivalent vanadium ions (V 2+ , V 3+ , VO 2+ , and VO 2 + ) and charge‐balancing ions (H 3 O + , SO 4 2 -and HSO 4 - ) encountered in the electrolyte solutions of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRBs). The calculated results indicate that radii of all charge‐balancing ions are less than 3.01 Å and of all hydrated multivalent vanadium ions are greater than 3.78 Å. The results of our calculations also suggest that cation‐exchange membranes with pore sizes ranging from 3.98 to 7.56 Å and anion‐exchange membranes with pore sizes ranging from 6.02 to 7.56 Å are suitable for the VRB application. These computational results agree very well with reported experimental results and provide valuable guidance for the selection and design of membranes on the molecular level for VRB applications.